Welcome Mr President! Please, Free Pollard
On the eve of Barak Obama’s visit to Israel, I was on my way to the press party for foreign journalists. Only I never got to the Begin Center reception,
Approaching Beit Hanasi there were barriers and a large crowd blocking the street.
The #13 bus had to be diverted, but everyone in the neighborhood is expecting that to be the norm for the rest of the week with streets blocked for Obama security.
The barriers were for a Jonathan Pollard protest rally.
“Let Pollard Go” and “YES YOU CAN” banners were held up.
Fox news was on the scene, I sure hope they got a good story.
I was happy to see that I was not the only one missing the party.
Hundreds of welcoming banners were displayed in Hebrew and English.
There were plenty of white hats in the crowd..
but this one black hat seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Natan Sharansky addressed the crowd wearing his usual cap.
The frenzy in crowd was contained, but displayed by many youthful participants.
Hundreds or thousands of people turned out to call for the release of Jonathan Pollard.
Notice how one entrepreneurial ice cream truck had the sense to come too!
Have to love those Jerusalem protest rallies, short on violence, but with plenty of smiling cute girls.
Maybe not the stuff of international news, but great for photo blogs.
Now it is count down time for #ObamaInIsrael.
About the Author
I lived in the United States, Canada and Australia before moving to Israel in the midst of the Second Lebanon War. For for the last six years, walking the streets of Jerusalem, the scenes I saw every day did not resemble the ones familiar in the Western media. Now I try to share those positive images with the world, what is really happening in Jerusalem, Israel, The Real Jerusalem StreetsFiled Under: RealJStreets
Well I can’t blame you for liking Jerusalem Protests because of the last picture.
I don’t support Israel because of the cute girls … but it wouldn’t hurt to give myself another reason to
From Obama interview it seems that the chances of letting go Pollard are low, unfortunately, I would even forgive Obama if He made a major political stunt out of it by secretly bringing Pollard and showcasing him free at the dinner. We can always dream.
This is one of the many reasons I love Israel. Israelis, free to express their views openly, advance ideas passionately, but in a civil and orderly manner. But isn’t this Jonathan Pollard business pretty much a side show? American-Israeli military and intelligence cooperation, Iran, Syria, Gaza and the West Bank are all far more important to both Obama and Netanyahu. Israelis can protest, sign petitions, present their case to President Obama, but Jonathan Pollard really is small potatoes.
Yes it is small potatoes, but it is one of these sentimental issues that have no price tag even if in the grand scheme of things it is meaningless.
Israeli Spies make untold sacrifices for their country, so it is nice to see Israelis give them some love and support.
What is West Bank?
A jordanian relic some people think to be located in Judea and Samaria.
Best. Answer. Ever.
Ahahah some people like six bilions of people. In the meanwhile sono hundreds thousands of people call the occupy territories judaea and samaria. Like the famous sentence “judaea capta est”. Greetings from cisalpine gallia.
90% of these 9 Billions don’t even know where the Jordan River is, and will likely answer based on a map that advance a political view point hammered since 1948.
Do you know where is the Kwanza River ? or what a disputed territory between Burma and Thailand should be given to ?
Great pictures Sharon. You seemmto have captured the mood of the crowd very well. I’m sorry I couldn’t get to the demo last night.
Thanks
If Pollard had been passing information on to Saudi Arabia he would never have seen the inside of a jail cell.
bradley manning passed intel to wikileaks
he will never get out of the cold, dark, hole they are about to toss him in
we still dont know the damage that pollard did, or whether he caused any deaths
and 8 years of bush, the alleged israel lover and still pollard wasnt pardoned…what does that tell you?
[...] I did a whole photo essay on the last Free Pollard rally on the eve of Barak Obama’s visit here on IsraellyCool. [...]